Weather Alert: Dense Fog Advisory

Until 8pm Wednesday, January 28

The fog is expected to reduce visibility to near zero in some areas. If you plan to drive, be prepared for greatly reduced visibility, slow down, use your low beam headlights and maintain a safe distance between vehicles.

For the latest weather forecasts, visit the National Weather Service at http://www.weather.gov/phi.

Weather Alert Update: Winter Storm Warning

4pm Tuesday (1/27) through 12pm Wednesday (1/28)

The total amount of snowfall is expected to be 3 to 5 inches across the Philadelphia area. Once the snow changes to freezing rain or sleet, 1/4 inch of ice could accumulate. This may impact travel. Continue to monitor the latest weather forecasts. For more information, visit the National Weather Service at www.weather.gov/phi.

If you must travel, use public transportation.

If you must drive:

• Avoid driving until road crews clear roadways.
• Before starting your car, clear snow from the tail pipe to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Completely clear your vehicle of snow and ice, including windows, mirrors, roof, trunk, hood, and lights.
• Travel in daylight and don't travel alone.
• Stay on main roads.
• Be aware of potentially icy areas, such as shady spots and bridges.
• Drive at speeds dictated by conditions.
• Keep a safe distance of at least five seconds behind other vehicles and trucks that are plowing the roadway.
• Do not pass a snowplow or spreader unless it is absolutely necessary. Treat these vehicles as you would emergency response vehicles.
• Carry a cell phone.
• Let family or friends know your travel schedule and routes.
• Keep a small sack of sand or kitty litter in your car for generating traction under wheels.

Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Beware of Frostbite

Frostbite is frozen body tissue, usually skin. It affects the extremities first: fingers, toes, ears, and the tip of the nose. The skin might lose feeling, or look white, pale, hard or waxy. As the area thaws, skin may turn red, blue or purple. Skin can also swell or blister. The victim may also feel tingling, burning or severe pain as the frostbitten tissue thaws. Children lose body heat faster than adults, so they can get frostbite faster.

If you suspect frostbite:

• Get to a warm room or shelter


• Drink warm fluids, but no alcohol


• Remove any wet clothing


• Don't walk on frostbitten feet or toes


• Warm the affected areas in warm (not hot) water, or with warm blankets


• Don't rub frostbitten skin


• Don't use a heating pad, heat lamp, or heat from a stove, fireplace or radiator to warm the frostbitten areas - numb body parts can't feel the heat and can get burned


• If skin color and feeling don't return to normal quickly, get medical help as soon as possible

Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Heat Your Home Safely

Many fires and emergencies happen every year in Philadelphia because of faulty heating units. Call the Department of Licenses and Inspections at 311 for a fire inspection if you are unsure whether your heat source is safe.

If you rent and do not have heat, contact your building owner, If your heat does not come back within a reasonable time, contact the Department of Licenses and Inspections.

Safe Heating Tips:

• Furnaces, boilers, hot water heaters and clothes dryers should be working properly, and ventilated. Have a professional inspect them regularly in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.


• Use electric heaters with extreme caution to prevent shock, fire and burns.


• Avoid using a kerosene heater indoors.


• Keep items at least three feet from heat sources, to help prevent fire.


• Never use a gas oven or burner to heat your home.

Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Avoid Hypothermia This Winter

Hypothermia is a life-threatening condition with abnormally low body temperature. Depending on age and health, a person might not realize his or her core body temperature has fallen dangerously low. Symptoms of hypothermia include uncontrollable shivering, confusion or sleepiness, slurred speech, and slow reactions.

If you suspect hypothermia:

• Get the victim to a warm room or shelter


• Remove any wet clothing


• Warm the center of the body first, so blood circulation will increase to the extremities


• Give the victim warm drinks, but no alcohol


• Get medical help as soon as possible

Social Networking with Emergency Management

The Philadelphia Managing Director’s Office of Emergency Management (MDO-OEM)
announced today that it has launched a social networking initiative to reach the public
before, during, and after disasters.

MDO-OEM has established a presence on Blogger, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn. Additional social networking websites are being explored and may be added at a later date. Links to all these pages can be found at www.phila.gov/ready.

These sites will be used to provide weekly emergency preparedness tips and to broadcast advisories before, during and after emergencies to update the public on preparation activities and the response effort. MDO-OEM is also exploring how these sites can be used to obtain important information from the public, such as gathering data on damaged areas following a severe storm.

Deputy Managing Director MaryAnn E. Tierney noted, “In addition to ReadyNotifyPA, our region’s emergency text and e-mail alert system, social networking sites are another tool for us to supplement traditional methods, such as television, radio and print media, get preparedness and critical emergency messages to the public.”

According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, sites such as these have rocketed from a niche activity into a phenomenon that engages tens of millions of Internet users.

“Social networks are being used more and more by many professionals and large corporations. It’s important for government agencies to take advantage of these opportunities, as well, to convey important information to a wider audience and build relationships by inviting others into our online network or community to give us a better understanding of their needs and concerns,” noted Tierney.

You can subscribe to OEM’s blog at http://www.philaoem.blogspot.com/, friend them on MySpace at www.myspace.com/philaoem, follow them on Twitter at www.twitter.com/philaoem, watch the YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/philaoem, or become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Philadelphia-PA/Philadelphia-Office-of-Emergency-Management/49891680434, or stay connected with colleagues at http://www.linkedin.com/in/philaoem.

Wally Wise Guy's Wise Words of the Week: Resolve to Be Ready in 2009

Are you and your family prepared for an emergency? If you had to stay in your home for a few days, would you have what you need to stay safe, comfortable and healthy? If you had to leave your home suddenly, without time to pack anything, would you be ready to go? The time to start planning for an emergency is not in the middle of one. In an emergency, you’re either READY or you’re not.

In a national survey conducted by the Ad Council, 91 percent of Americans agreed that taking some simple steps to prepare could help protect themselves and their families in the event of an emergency. However, only 54 percent had taken at least one of the three steps recommended by the Ready Campaign, including getting an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan, and being informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur.

To learn how to prepare your family for all types of emergencies including natural and human-caused disasters, visit www.phila.gov/ready, email edward.vassallo@phila.gov, or call 215-683-3250 to request the Ready Philadelphia brochures in English, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Polish, and Russian.